Thread package



1,991,880 c. E. CHAFFIN Feb, 19 1 THREAD PACKAGE 4 Filed Aprll 9 195 lmini-Ul u I MMIII-lll INVENTOR/ ATTORNEY.

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Patented Feb. 19, 1935 AUNlTlazos'rpxrlzs PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in thread packages, and more particularly to that type of large packages in which several thousand yards of thread are wound on. a hollow core, or bobbin,

, provided Witha base at onev end.

An object of myvinvention is to provide, on such a package, means for temporarily securing the free end of the thread, when the package is not in use. It is often desirable to change the packages during a sewing operation, in order to change the color of the thread and pattern of the finished goods. The present practice is to break the thread, wind the freeend around the package, and tie it in a knot. This practice often results 1 in tangled andfdisarranged thread, causing waste of material and loss in operating time. It is an object ofv my invention to provide means for securing the free end of the thread on the package,

without tieing, and at a point remote from the'Y wound thread, so that the winding of the thread on the spool, or core, will be undisturbed, in later handling.

Broadly, my invention comprises, in combination with a wound package of thread, a cap member which is snugly fitted into the upper end of the hollow core and formed with a tapered shoulder which, in Vcombination with the upper end, or edge of the core, forms an annular, sharply tapered recess, in which .the thread may be frictionally retained.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a thread package, or spool, with my cap member secured thereto, the section being considered through the axis of the core member.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the cap, or plug member, removed from the core of the spool.

Fig. 3 is a partial, sectional View on an enlarged scale, illustrating the co-operation between the cap member and the core, or bobbin, and

Fig. 4 is a modification of the plug.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:-

A bobbin, or core 1, secured in any suitable manner to a base member 2, is wound with thread 3, having a free end 4. A cap, or plug member 5, having a reduced, downwardly extending portion 6 is formed with a plurality of beads 7, and is snugly fitted into the upper end of the core 1. The beads and channels serve to provide for atmospheric changes, and variations in the size ofthe core due to winding. The cap member 5 is also formed with a sharply tapered shoulder surface 8, adjacent the portion 6,'and, when the cap is assembled in the Vcore, the intersection 9 Y of the shoulder portion 8 and the portion 6 rests on the inner edge,v or corner 10, ofthe top, or end 11, of the core 1. ,In this position, the face of the shoulder portion 8, in co-.operation with the end 11 of the core l, forms an annular, radially and inwardly tapering recess 12. The free end 4 of the thread 3 may be removably secured in the recess l2, Without any tieing, `by winding the thread in the recess 12. A reverse movement of the free end 4 will disengag'e it from the recess 12. The cap, or plug member, ismade so as to have a snug nt in the core 2, in order to compensate for any atmospheric changes, and winding operations. The upper surface also serves the purpose of providing a surface for suitable advertising matter and other data, as the number of the thread and space for a trade name, or mark.

Referring to Fig. 4, in which the plug 5 is formed with a bead portion 13, which is made larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the core 1; the portion 14 is formed with the inclined surface 15, which forms a space 16 between the bead 13 and the point 17, where it engages the core 1 near its upper edge, as shown. This construction serves to provide a suction effect to prevent the accidental removal of the plug. It also serves to provide a yielding effect to permit the core l to bend, or yield slightly inwards, when the thread 3 is wound on the core, as the mass of thread sometimes produces considerable pressure on the core. The air-tight space 16, therefore, serves a useful purpose in providing a vacuum effect against the removal of the plug and also allows for variations in the size of the core.

The annular channel 18 provides a suitable bases and tubes uncolored, rather than have several different colors, such as is the general practice in the thread trade, at the present time.

The goods may be identified by the cap, or plug alone, by having the desired colored cap, or plug. 'I'he top and side portions of the plug above the portion inserted into the tube may, if desired, be utilized for attaching a descriptive sticker, or label, which can be made of suflicient size to be clear, or these might be embossed, printed, or otherwise marked, to accomplish this purpose.

Another important feature of the present invention is the fact that .the cap of the plug protects the upper end of the tube, or core 1 from becoming jammed, or roughened, in handling, or shipping, and maintains, at all times, a smooth, upper surface, for permitting the thread to ybe drawn across, or over, this end, when being unwound. This is the standard method of withdrawing, or delivering, thread from the package.

What I claim isz- 1. In combination with a thread package hav'- ing a hollow core, a cap member secured in an end of said core and formed with a tapered shoulder that is located adjacent the end of the core-V for providing an annular tapered groove for securing the free end of the thread.

2. In combination with a package of thread having a hollow core, a cap member removably secured in the upper end of said core and formed with an upwardly and outwardly tapering shoulder adjacent the upper end of said core.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cap for thread packages having a cap portion and a plugk portion relatively smaller in diameter than said cap portion, an annular surface on the cap portion located adjacent the plug portion and being radially tapered to form an obtuse angle with the plug portion.

4. In combination with a thread package having a hollow core, a cap member snugly tted in an end of said core, said cap member being formed with a tapered shoulder adjacent the end of said core, whereby a radial inwardly tapering recess is vformed between said shoulder and the end of said core, said cap member being formed with a plurality of circumferential beads engaging the inner surface of said core for the purpose of providing annular channels to compensate for atmospheric changes.

5. Means for temporarily securing the free end of the thread, or the like, on a spool having a tubular core, a removable plug in an end of the core and formed with a cap part which is tapered on its lower surface, to form a V-shaped space at the end of the core, in which space the free end of the thread may be readily pinched therein and removed therefrom.

6. In a spool of thread having a hollow core, means for securing the free end of the thread comprising, a plug for the core on which is 'formed an inclined surface which with the end of the core produces a V-shaped groove when nserted in the core.

'7. In combination with a thread package having a hollow core, a cap member having a bead portion the diameter of which isv greater than the internal diameter ofthe core and a cut away portion between the bead portionand the. part of the plug which closely engages the upper inner .edge of the core for forming aV space for providing a vacuum effect against the removal of the plug and to compensate for changes in the size of the 'core'.` f'

CLARENCE E, CHAFFIN. 

